Affordability Study

New York City Residential Flood Insurance Affordability Study

The Mayor’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency is conducting a residential flood insurance affordability study to better understand how new flood maps  being prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and recent legislation passed by Congress might affect flood insurance rates and financially impact City property owners and renters. The study will be prepared for the City by a team led by the not-for-profit research firm, the RAND Corporation. The team also includes the Center for NYC Neighborhoods, a local organization that promotes affordable homeownership for New Yorkers.

The information gained through this study will help the City develop programs that can make our communities safer and improve the affordability of flood insurance. A limited number of residential property owners will be invited to participate in the study. If you are contacted by the City or the RAND Corporation about the study, please consider participating. Invited property owners will receive letters informing them of next steps, which will first include completing a survey and then being available for a 1-hour property site visit to take measurements of the property. After the site visit, participants will receive an Elevation Certificate for their property and receive a $50 gift card.

The video below explains everything you need to know about elevation certificates.

You can learn more about the study at www.FloodAffordabilityStudyNYC.org. To find out more about flood insurance, FEMA’s remapping of New York City, and your own property’s flood risk visit www.FloodHelpNY.org. For questions about the study, you can contact our study team by email at info@FloodAffordabilityStudyNYC.org or by phone at 1-844-228-2761.